Tray loading machine



April 1942. w. E. ROONEY TRAY LOADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1939 5Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS April 28, 1942. w. E. ROONEY TRAY LOADINGMACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. E. RQONEY TRAY LOADINGMACHINE April 28, 1942.

Filed Jan. 4, ,1939

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mmumm "hilllllllllllfl INVENrbR. wan d s/ ezfl 7 E IATTORNEY5 Patented Apr. 28, 1942 TRAY LOADING MACHINE Walter E. Rooney,Bellingham, Wash., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y. acorporation of New Jersey Application January 4, 1939, Serial No.249,303

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tray loading machine for packingfilled containers or cans into trays preparatory to cooking orprocessing same and has particular reference to placing the cans inpredetermined positions in an orderly ar rangement within holding traysof various dimensions moving in a continuous procession.

In the canning industry, filled cans coming from the closing machinesare usually transferred by hand to the trays which hold the cans. whilethey are being processed and also while they are being cooled. The cansare usually nested in the holding trays as far as the trays will permitso as to pack a certain number of cans in each tray.

, The standard size of tray used in the Alaska salmon canning industry,as one example, is ,"thirty eight inches square and a tray is made tohold 168 cans of the standard can .size when the cans are placed one candeep and in 14 rows with 12 cans in a row. While this is the standardtray size, it has been found that these trays in use in differentpackers plants vary considerably from the standard size, there beingdifferences in width and in length of as much as one half inch, toolarge or too small. Since the can total of 168 cans has been the vitalprerequisite in tray manufacture, if the width is short the length isusually over. This variance in tray dimensions has made it difllcult touse a mechanical can loader.

Since even small packers carry a supply of as many as two thousand traysfor almost daily use it will be seen that discarding of the trays nowused, for more uniform size trays, is impractical. Rather a mechanicalcan loader to be successful must needs be sufiiciently flexible to fitthe trays and to compensate for variation. This has been accomplished inthe present machine.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming the can loadingdifliculties by placing the cans in the trays mechanicallyand in aprede-. termined relation to the sides of the trays which positioningstaggers the cans relative to each other so that they will nest as neartogether as possible. Thus trays now in existence may be used in thepresent machine and may be packed with the full number of cans and wherethe tray sizes vary greatly the number of cans is not sacrificed eventhough symmetrical or perfect nesting of the cans may not be obtained.

An object of the invention therefore is the provision of a can transfermachine wherein filled cans received in a continuous procession arepicked up in rows and placed in moving trays in an arrangement ofparallel rows which are staggered so that a predetermined number of canswill be packed in a given space, thereby saving manual handling of theindividual, cans.

Another object is the provision in a machine of this character of meansfor shifting the moving trays transversely of their path of travel aseach row of cans is placed therein so that each alternate row will beindexed from one side of the tray while the in-between rows will beindexed from the opposite side of the tray, thereby adapting the machineto various widths of trays now in use.

chine of devices for feeding the trays along a predetermined path oftravel in a step-by-step movement as the rows of cans are placed in themand for periodically advancing each tray, upon completion of its fill, agreater distance than such regular step-by-step advancement tocompensate for the necessary space between the adjacent ends of trayspassing in'a continuous procession.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tray loading machine embodying theinstant invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with partsbroken away;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the electric apparatus used in themachine;

Figs. 4 to 11, inclusive, are sectional detailstaken substantially alongcorrespondingly numbered lines in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 12' is an elevational detail taken substan tially along a planeindicated by the line l2-I2 in Fig. 2.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a canloading machine in which filled cans A are normally received in asubstantially continuous procession and are aligned at a receivingstation B in a straight row extending transversely of the machinepreparatory to being loaded into trays C. The trays C are advancedthrough the machine in spaced end to end relation by an inclined feedingdevice D which moves them slowly down the incline in a step by stepmovement, the inclined trays passing under the can receiving station B.

- chine.

As a tray C passes under the can receiving station B, the cans alignedthere are lifted by a magnetic transfer mechanism E and are placed a rowat a time in the tray. In placing the rows of cans, the transfermechanism during every other pass brings the cans straight back, whileduring alternate passes each can row is shifted transversely of themachine so that all of the cans will be in staggered formation, each canbeing as near as possible to its neighbors. The bottom of a tray whilebeing loaded is at an incline which insures that each row of cans asbrought into place moves down as 'far as possible against the cansbelow. This leaves the maximum of empty space above where the cans comeinto the tray.

For perfect nestin'g of the cans, the tray would have to be wide enoughto allow a space of approximately one half a can diameter at one end ofeach 'row' when the end can at the opposite end 'of the row is'inengagement with the adjacentside wall of the tray. However, since thetrays vary in width enough to make perfect nesting the exception ratherthan the rule, provision is made for as near a symmetrical nesting ofthe cans as is possible.

This resulting approximate nesting of the cans is effected by shiftingthe trays transversely of the machine just priorto the placing of'a. rowof cans therein, so that the first can at one end of a row will be inengagement with the adjacent side wall of the tray when that row isplaced in position. The last can in the succeeding row will be placedagainst the adjacent side wall of the tray on the opposite side of themachine when that later row is inserted in place. Thus the cans are instaggered positions.

By the time the trays reach the lower end of the inclined conveyor Dthey are fully loaded and are thence discharged to any suitable place ofdeposit for cooking.

Entrance of the cans A into the machine from any suitable source ofsupply, such as a retort or the like, is preferably effected by way ofan endless feed-in belt conveyor 2| (Figs. 1 and 2') which is locatedalong one side of a main frame 22 which supports the various parts ofthe ma- The feed-in belt takes over a pair of spaced pulleys 23 one pairof which is mounted at the entrance end of the machine on a short idlershaft 24 and the other pair at the opposite end of the machine on a beltdrive shaft 25 which extends across the full width of the machine.

The shafts are carried in bearings 26 formed in a can entrance table 2'!which is secured to the main frame 22 and over which the upper run ofthe feed-in belt travels. On the opposite side of the machine the driveshaft 25 is also journaled in a bearing 28 formed in a bracket securedto the main frame 22. Guide rails 29 secured to the table extend alongthe path of travel of the feed-in belt adjacent the outer edges thereofand thus maintain the cans on the belt in a strai line.

The feed-in belt 2! is continuously actuated. For this purpose the beltdrive shaft 25 carries a sprocket 33 (Figs. 1 and 2) rotated by a chain34 which also takes over a driving sprocket 35. Driving sprocket 35 ismounted on a cross-shaft 36 which is journaled in bearings 31 formed ina gear housing 38 of the main frame 22. The inner end of the shaftcarries a gear 39 which meshes with an idler gear 40 mounted on a stubshaft 4| secured in the inner wall section of the housing. Idler gear 40meshes with a driv n gear 43 mounted ona crossshaft 44 journaled inbearings '45 formed in the housing.

The outer end of the cross-shaft 44 carries a bevel gear 41 which mesheswith a similar gear 46 secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 49disposed inside the gear housing. This vertical shaft is journaled inbearings 52 which are formed in the housing. vertical shaft carries aworm wheel 53 which is driven by a worm 54 keyed onto a main drivingshaft 55 journaled in bearings 56 formed in the gear housing. Thedriving shaft extends outside of the gear housing and is rotated in anysuitable manner, such as for example, by a pulley 51. The shaft andpulley may be rotated from any suitable source, of power, preferably anelectric motor which is indicated by the numeral 60 in the wiringdiagram in Fig. 3.

The continuously moving feed-in belt 2| carries the entering cans Atoward the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, i. e., toward the beltdrive shaft 25. Adjacent this shaft the guide rails 29 curve inwardlytoward. the can receiving station B and align with a can receiving belt62 which extends transversely of the machine at station B (see also Fig.10).

The receiving belt 62 takes over spaced pulleys 63 located on oppositesides of the machine and carried on short shafts 64 journaled inbearings 65 formed in brackets 66 on the main frame 22. The shaft 64 onthe far side of the machine carries a bevel gear 61 which meshes withand is driven by a bevel gear 68 keyed onto the feed-in belt drive shaft25. The receiving belt is driven a little faster than the feed-in beltin order to prevent any piling up of the cans.

Thus cans A carried by the feed-in belt 2| are transferred by the guiderails 29 onto the receiving belt 62, the cans crowding against eachother in a straight line or row on the receiving belt. .The outer guiderail 29 extends along the outer side of the receiving belt and thusmaintains the received can in a straight line. The inner side of thebelt is left open so that the cans may be more readily removed therefromas will be hereinafter more fully explained. A bridge extension 69 ofthe feed-in table 21 is located under the curved portions of the guiderails 29 and thus provides a support for the cans while they aretransferred from one belt to the other.

When a certain number of cans, preferably twelve, are aligned on thereceiving belt'62, the cans following are held back until the twelvealigned cans are removed and placed in a tray C as hereinbeforementioned. This cut-off of the cans is brought about by a sliding gateelement 12 which is carried in a slideway 13 formed in a bracket 14secured to the feed-in table 21 adjacent the can entrance end of thereceiving belt 62.

The gate element is fastened to the lower end of a vertically disposedlever 76 carried intermediate its length on a pivot pin 71 secured inthe bracket 14. The upper end of the gate lever is connected by a link18 to a cam arm 79 (see also Fig. 7) carried on a pivot pin 8| securedin a lug 82 depending from the top of the gear housing 38. Intermediateits length'the cam arm carries a cam roller 84 which operates in a camgroove 85 of a cam 86'mounted on a shaft ll! journaled in suitablebearings formed in the gear housing. The cam shaft 81 is continuouslyrotated by a bevel gear 88 which is keyed to the outer end of the shaftand which meshes with a At its upper end the bevel gear 89 mounted onthe vertical drive shaft. V

For-proper operation of the machine the incoming cans A should bereceived in a substantially continuous procession so that the receivingstation B will always receive its full quota of cans. This will insurepacking of the trays Chereinbefore mentioned with a full load. Provisionis thus made for stopping the operation of the machine if for any reasonthere is an unreasonable break in the procession of cans entering themachine.

Stopping of the machine is brought about by a-can detector arm 9| (Figs.1 and 2) which rides on'the tops of the cans as they pass along on thebelt conveyor 2|. The arm is mounted on the innerend of a short shaft-92carried in a bearing 93 formed in a bracket 94 secured to the side ofthe can table 21. The outer end of the shaft carries a tiltable mercuryswitch 95 which is connected into an electric circuit shown in thewiring diagram in Fig. 3 and which will be fully explained hereinafter.

As long as cans on-the belt conveyor 2| are passing in a continuousprocession the detector 25 now stationary belt they will push each otheralong the belt until the break in the line isclosed. Cans thus moving into close the break will raise the detector arm and thus tilt the mercuryswitch into machine operating position. The machine will thus beginoperating again and then the belt conveyor will be set in motion tocarry the cans along toward station B.

The trays C to be loaded with the cans A are supported on an inclinedplatform of spaced and parallel rollers IIII (Figs. 1, 2, 11 and 12) whch extend transversely of the machine. .These rollers are looselymounted on roller shafts I02 the ends of which are secured in rollerside plates Ill. These side plates are connected to the main frame 22 bylinks I.

The upper ends of the links are carried on pivot pins Ilii securedinlugs I" formed on the roller plates. The lower ends of the links arecarried on pivot pins IIII secured in lugs' I08 formed onthe inside ofthe main frame 22. Guide members I09 interposed between the rollers andsecured to cross bars I I I, bolted to the side plates I03, prevent theends of the trays from catching under the rollers when they first comeinto the machine.

The trays C are propelled down the inclined platform by the conveyor Dhereinbefore men tioned. This conveyor includes a pair of endless chainsIIS disposed one on each side of the machine adiacent to and parallelwiththe roller side plates I03. These chains take over sprockets IISmounted on cross-shafts III journaled in bearings II8 formed in the mainframe 22.

bars provide abutments against which the front ends of the trays engageand hold trays back 10 (Figs. 1, 2 and 8) and a ratchet wheel I24.

0 trays in adjacent rows.

as they roll down the inclined platform under their own weight. Thedistance between the cross bars I19 is substantially equal to the lengthof one tray holding 14 rows of cans with an ad- 5 ditional clearancespace equalto another row of cans.

The conveyor chains H5 are actuated with step by step movement by anintermittent motion ratchet device which includes a pawl I23 pawl iscarriedon a pivot pin I25 secured in an off center position in aneccentric disc I26 mounted on the inner end of the gear shaft 44.

The ratchet wheel is mounted on the inner end of .a ratchet shaft I28carried in bearings I29 formed in the gear housing 38. This ratchetshaft is connected with the lower sprocket shaft II! of the conveyor Dby an endless chain I3I which takes over a sprocket I32 mounted on theratchet shaft and over a similar sprocket III mounted on the lowerconveyor shaft II1.

Thus every time the gear shaft 44 makes one revolution, the ratchetwheel is moved forward one tooth and accordingly the conveyor D is madeequal to the space occupied by one row of cans in a tray C,so that asthe conveyor moves the tray along one step at a time the cans from thereceiving station B may be placed in the The inclined position of thetray permits settling of the cans toward the lower end of the tray.

When a tray C is fully loaded, the tray following is moved down by theconveyor D a dou- 35 his step in order to obtain the clearancespacebetween trays previously mentioned, so that the following tray will bein correct position to receive the next row of cans from station B asthey are delivered in regular time and without interruption of transfer.This extra movement is effected by a pawl shoe I 35 which is secured tothe pawl I23 and which cooperates with a pin I36 projecting from theside of the ratchet wheel.

The ratchet wheel makes one complete revolution for each tray. At thecompletion of this lent of two steps of regular movement of the conveyorThus'by means of this movement the tray next in line is brought intoposition ready to receive its cans and without the need of delaying thedelivery of the cans until the tray is properly positioned. I

Delivery of the cans A into the trays C from the station B is effectedby the magnetic transfer device E hereinbefore mentioned. This transferdevice includes an electro-magnet HI (Figs. 1 and 2) which extendsacross the machine and which is long enough to pick up the twelvesegregated cans disposed at station B. The magnet is fastened by pivotpins I42 to a cross beam The transfer device is movable in threedirections, vertically, longitudinally and transversely of the machine.These movements are coordinated so that one row of the cans will firstbe raised, then drawn back, shifted sidewise for nesting and lastlylowered into position in the tray. The transfer device returns throughthese same movements in reverse order for a subsequent load, 1. e.another row of cans. For this purpose the magnetic cross beam I ispivoted to the outer ends of a pair of parallel arms I".

The

moved down the incline one step. This step is inbefore mentioned theyare moved against side The inner ends of the arms are pivotallyconnected to a slide I46 (see also Fig. 4) mounted in a slideway I4'lformed in a rocker bracket I48.

The vertical movement of the transfer device is brought about by camaction. For this purpose the rocker bracket I48 is formed on the innerend of a sleeve I58 carried in bearings Il formed in legs I52 dependingfrom the top of the gear housing 88. The outer end of the sleeve carriesa cam arm I54 (see also Fig. 6) which is provided with a cam roller I55operating in a cam groove I58 formed in the inner face of a double camIEE. The cam is mounted on the cross shaft till.

Horizontal longitudinal movement of the transfer device is also effectedby cam action which shifts the slide I465 in its slideway idi first on abackward can delivering stroke and then on a forward returning stroke.This horizontal longitudinal movement is brought about by a gear Id!which meshes with a. rack m2 formed in' the bottom of the slide. Thegear is mounted on the inner end of a shaft I63 carried in a-bore I64formed in the rocker bracket sleeve M9.

The shaft extends beyond the .sleeve and is carried in a bearing I86formed on the gear housing 38. The outer end of the shaft carries a gearI67 (see also Fig. 5) which meshes with a segment gear I68. This segmentgear is formed on a cam arm I 69mounted on a pivot stud ill secured in alug I12 formed on the gear housing 38. The free end of the cam armcarries a cam roller I13 which operates in a cam groove II4 formed inthe outer face of the double cam I5'I.

Transverse shifting of the magnet MI is effected by the movement of alink Ill (Figs. 1 and 2) which is carried intermediate its length on apivot pin I I8 secured in an extension I79 of the rocker bracket I48.The link thus rocks on the bracket. The outer end of the link isconnected to a cross bar' I8! which is pivotally secured to both of theparallel arms I45 in parallelogram fashion.

The inner end of the link carries a cam roller .I83 (see Fig. 4) whichoperates in a cam groove I84 of a barrel cam I85 mounted loosely on therocker bracket sleeve I49. The cam is secured to the side of a gear I86.This gear meshes with and is driven in time with the other moving partsof the machine by a gear I8'I.(see Fig. 9) mounted on the cross shaft81.

The gear I85 is timed relative to the other moving parts of the machineso that it will make only one revolution while the other gears and camsclosely associated with it make two. This rotates the cam I85 throughonly one half revolution while the magnet I4I is moving through onecycle and accordingly the effect of the cam is to shift the magnetsidewise at every alternate cycle. In other words for every other row ofcans placed in a tray C, the magnet is not shifted sidewise but is onlymoved backward and forward.

On all of the in-between rows of cans, the

magnet is shifted sidewise as well as rearwardly and forwardly. It willthus'be obvious that the cans are placed in the trays in staggeredformation. The cam shifts the magnet a fixed stroke which is such as toproperly nest the cans in a tray regardless of any slight off-standarddimension.

In the transverse shifting of the trays as hereaee esa These side guidesextend the full length 0f the machine and are parallel with and adjacentto the conveyor chains H5. The guides are secured to lu s or bracketmembers I92 formed on the side of the main frame 22.

This transverse shifting of the trays preparatory to receiving a row ofcans, is effected by shifting the supporting rollers Iiii and their sideplates I83 on their links ltd. This is brought about by an eccentric orcrank arm Edd (Figs. 2 and 12) having a pin W5 which operates in a slotI96 in a lug it? formed on the side of one of the roller plates #133.The crank arm is formed on the upper end of a vertical crank shaft E98journaled in a bearing E99 extended from the inside of the gear housing38. The lower end of the crank shaft carries a gear 28H which mesheswith and is driven by a pinion 2% on the main vertical shaft Hence asthe crank shaft rotates the crank arm, the crank pin moves through anarcuate path of travel and being confined in the slot 95 it shifts theside plates we and the attached rollers transversely of the machine. Thetrays supported on the rollers are thereby shifted into engagement withthe side guide on one side of the machine during one portion of thecrank pin cycle and into engagement with the side guide on the oppositeside of the machine during another portion of the crank pin cycle.

In the operation of the machine a tray C about to receive its first rowof cans is shifted transversely so that its side wall which is shown atthe top in Fig. 1, engages against the side guide I9l shown at top. Themagnet transfer device E carrying one row -of contiguous cans then movesback (toward the left in Fig. 1) so that the cans are suspended over thetray and then moves down placing this row of cans in the tray, the cansengaging against the front wall (right as viewed in the figure) of thetray and thefirst can in the row (at the top) engaging against the wallof the tray shown above.

This leaves a space between the last can shown at the bottom and theside wall of the tray which is below as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Thisspace vanes with the size of the tray used. This first row of cans isthus registered with the wall of the tray shown above. After release ofthe cans as will be hereinafter explained the magnet transfer devicemoves up out of the tray and further moves forward (toward the right inthe figure) into position over the receiving station B in readiness topick up a second row of cans.

While the transfer device is moving forward into position over thereceiving station B as just described, the tray C is advanced down theincline substantially the space of one row of cans and s simultaneouslyshifted transversely of the mach ne. This transverse shifting now movesthe side wall of the tray (which is above as viewed in Fig. 1) away fromthe upperside guide I 9I (as shown in the figure) and brings the lowerside wall of the tray into engagement or register with the side guideI9I shown at the bottom The tray remains in I magnet transfer device Epicks up the second row of cans, moves back with them to a position overthe tray adjacent the first placed row, and now shifts sidewise which inFig. 1 is toward the bottom side wall of the tray as shown. The

this position while the can in the row is then in register with thislower side wall of the tray. is tilted into closed position, the circuitwhich The second row of cans is then placed in the tray by lowering ofthe transfer device. The row has thus been registered with the lowerside wall of the tray as shown in the drawings and is in back of thefirst placed row.

Such register in some cases will not perfectly nest the cans of thefirst and second rows but as the tray advances down the incline and asit is shifted from one side to another, the resulting shaking of thecans is suilicient to spread them and thus obtain the required nesting.Hence for each row of cans placed in the tray, alternate rows areregistered with one side of the tray while the inbetween rows areregistered with the opposite side of the tray.

A row of cans being placed in a tray is guided into position by a curvedguide plate 205 (Figs. 1 and This guide plate extends the full width ofthe station 13 and is adjustably secured to the back can guide at thatstation so that it can be properly positioned relative to the trayspassing under it.

When a row of cans is in place in a tray the magnet is de-energized sothat it will release the cans. This is done by a normally closed limitor toggle switch (Figs. 6 and 9) which is operated by an extension 208of the cam arm I54, the extension 208 striking the switch at the end ofthe throw of the cam arm. The magnet is thus momentarily de-energizedfor a period long enough for the magnet to lift out of the region of theplaced cans before it is again energized.

. Referring now to the wiring diagram in Fig. 3'

it will be seen that the limit switch 201 is connected by a wire 2 tothe magnet I. The magnet is also connected by wires 2|2, M3 to a sourceof electric energy such as a generator 2 II. The limit switch 20'! isalso connected by wires 21!, 2l6 to the generator. Hence as long as thelimit switch remains closed the circuit is complete and energy flowsthrough the magnet and wire2l3 to the generator. The other terminal ofthe switch is connected by a wire 2|8 to one side of a solenoid 2). Theother side of the solenoid is connected by the wire 2 I6 to thegenerator.

The solenoid H9 is provided with a core 22l which forms the movableelement of a normally closed start-stop switch 222. A spring normallypresses the movable element into engagement with switch contacts 223,224. Contact 223 is connected by a wire 225 to a heavy duty generator226 which in turn is connected by a wire 22! to the machine motor 60.Switch contact 224 is connected by a wire 228 to the motor.

Hence as long as cans are passing into the machine in a continuousprocession the mercury switch 95 remains in its normal open position andthe solenoid 219 remains de-energized. The spring of switch 222 therebykeeps theswltch closed and energy from the generator 226 excites themachine motor 60 and hence keeps the machine in operation. However, whena break occurs in the line of cans and the mercury switch 75 includesthe solenoid becomes closed and hence the solenoid becomes energized.

The movable core 22l of the solenoid is hence drawn into the solenoidagainst the resistance of the switch spring. This opens the switch 222and thereby breaks the motor circuit. The.

motor thus ceases operation and the machine is stopped until the mercuryswitch is again opened. When-this happens the solenoid is again de-energized and the switch 222 is thus closed by the tension of itsspring. The motor circuit is thus re-established and the motor resumesoperation of the machine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A machine for loading cans in staggered rows in trays, whichcomprises in combination: mechanism for advancing trays along apredetermined path of travel, movable instrumentalities for placing rowsof a definite number of cans into said trays, and means forindependently shifting said instrumentalities and said traystransversely of their paths of travel, said shifting efiecting theplacing of alternate rows of cans in the tray relative to one side ofthe tray while the inbetween rows of cans are placed relative to theopposite side of the tray, so that the cans will nest together.

2. A machine for loading cans in staggered rows in trays, whichcomprises in combination: mechanism for advancing trays along apredetermined path of travel, movable instrumentalities for placing rowsof a definite number of cans into said trays, elements for moving saidinstrumentalities transversely of the path of advancement of the traysto place the cans in a staggered formation, and means for shifting saidtrays transversely of their path of travel, said shifting of said traysand transverse movement of said instrumentalities cooperating to insurethe placing of alternate rows of cans in the tray relative to one sideof the tray while the inbetween rows of cans are placed relative to theopposite side of-the tray, so that the cans will nest together.

3. A machine for loading cans-in staggered rows in holding trays, whichcomprises in combination, mechanism for advancing trays along apredetermined path of travel, means for aligning cans in a row adjacentthe path of travel of said trays, movable in'strumentalities for placingrows of a definite number of cans into said trays, and independent meansfor shifting said trays and said instrumentalities transversely of theirpaths of travel, said shifting movements cooperating to effect theplacing of alternate rows of cans in the tray relative to one side ofthe tray while the inbetween rows of cans are placed relative to theopposite side of the tray, so that the cans will nest together.

4. A machine for loading cans in staggered rows in holding trays, whichcomprises in combination: an inclined tray conveyor, actuating devicesfor propelling said conveyor and a tray positioned thereon in astep-by-step movement along a predetermined path of travel, movableinstrumentalities for placing rows of a definite number of cans intosaid trays in time with the advancement thereof, and independent meansfor shifting said trays and said can placing instrumentalitiestransversely of their respective paths of travel, said shiftingmovements coopcrating to effect the placing of alternate rows of cans inthe tray relative to one side of the tray while the in-between' rows ofcans are placed relative to the opposite side of the tray, so that thecans will nest together as nearly as the width of the tray will permit.

5. A machine for loading cans in staggered rows in holding trays, whichcomprises in combination, an inclined roller platform for supportingtrays to be loaded, a conveyor adjacent said platform and having crossbars extending across said platform for controlling the advancement ofsaid traystherealong, movable instrumentalities for placing rows of adefinite number of cans into said trays, means for shifting saidplatform transversely of the path of travel of the trays, means forshifting said can placing instrumentalities transversely of their normalpath of travel, said shifting movements cooperating to effect theplacing of alternate rows of cans in the tray relative to one side ofthe tray while the in-between rows of cans are placed relative to theopposite side of the tray, so that the cans will nest together.

6. A machine for loading cans in staggered rows in holding trays, whichcomprises in combination, an inclined roller platform for supportingtrays to be loaded, a conveyor adjacent said platform and having crossbars extending across said platform for controlling the advancement ofsaid trays therealong, side guides along said platform for said trays,movable instrumentalities for placing rows of a definite number of cansinto said trays, and independent means for shifting said can placinginstrumentalities and said platform transversely of the path of travelof the trays, the shifting movement of said platform engaging said traysfirst with one of said side guides and then with the opposite of saidside guides, both of saidshifting movements cooperating to the placingof alternate rows of cans in a said tray relative to one side of thetray while the in-between rows of cans are placed relative to theopposite side of the tray thus nesting the cans together in the tray.-

7. A machine for loading cans in staggered rows in holding trays, whichcomprises in combination: mechanism for advancing trays along apredetermined path of travel, devices for moving cans to be loaded intosaid trays along a predetermined path of travel, means for receiving andholding an aligned row of cans, a can segregating element for stoppingfurther admission of cans into said can receiving means when a definitenumber of cans are aligned thereon, movable instrumentalities forpicking up said aligned row of segregated cans and for placing it into asaid tray, and independent means for shifting said instrumentalities andsaid trays transversely of their normal paths of travel, both of saidshifting movements cooperating to effect the placing of alternate rowsof cans in the tray relative to one side of the tray while the inbetweenrows of cans are placed relatively to the opposite side of the tray.

8. A machine for loading cans in staggered rows in trays, whichcomprises in combination, mechanism for advancing trays along apredetermined path of travel, movable instrumentaliaas'cese ties forplacing rows of a definite number of cans into said trays, devices forguiding said cans into said trays, and independent means for shiftingsaid can placing instrumentalities and said trays transversely of theirpaths of travel, said shifting movements cooperating to effect theplacing of alternate rows of cans in the tray relative to one side ofthe tray while the in-between rows of cans are placed relative t theopposite side of the tray, so that the cans will nest together.

9. In a machine for loading cans in staggered rows in trays, thecombination of mechanism for advancing traysalong a predetermined pathof travel, an electro-rnagnet for placing rows of a definite number ofcans into said trays, actuating devices for said electrc-magnet, saiddevices moving said magnet into close association with said cans thenmoving it in the opposite direction for placingthe cans in. a tray whilesimultaneously moving the magnet sidewise for bringingthe cans intonesting position, and means for shifting said trays transversely oftheir path of travel, said shifting eifecting the placing of alternaterows of cans in the tray with one end of the; row engaging one side ofthe tray while the opposite end of each in-between row of cans engagesthe opposite side of the tray, so that the cans will nest together. i

10. In a machine for loading cans in staggered rows in holding trays,the combination of mechanism for advancing trays along a predeterminedpath of travel, an electromagnet for placing rows of a definite numberof cans into said trays, actuating devices for said electro-magnet, saidactuating devices moving said magnet into close association with saidcans then moving it in the opposite direction for placing the cans in atray while simultaneously moving the magnet sidewise for bringing thecans into nesting position, elements for de-energizing said magnet at apredetermined time to release the cans therefrom, and means for shiftingsaid trays transversely of their path of travel to locate the alternaterows of cans in the tray with one end of the row against one side of thetray while locating the inbetween rows of cans with the opposite tend ofthe row against the opposite side of the ray.

11. In a machine for loading cans in staggered rows in holding trays,the combination of mech-- anism for advancing trays along apredetermined path of travel, an electro-magnet for holding a definitenumber of cans in a row while placing the rows into said trays,actuating devices for said electro-magnet, said devices moving saidmagnet for alternate rows of cans into close cans relative to theopposite side of the tray, so

that the" cans will nest as close together as the width of the tray willpermit.

12. A machine for loading cans in staggered rows in trays, whichcomprises in combination: mechanism for advancing trays along apredetermined path of travel, instrumentalities for placing rows of adefinite number of cans into said trays, and means for effectingrelative movemerit between a said tray and said instrumentalitiestransversely of the path 0! travel or the trays to insure staggeringsaid rows of cans so that the cans will nest together in the trays.

13. In a. machine for loading cans in staggered rows in holding trays,the combination of mechanism for advancing trays along a predeterminedpath of travel, an electro-magnet for placing row-s oi a definite numberof cans into said trays,

a reciprccatable slide adjacent said magnet, a parallelogram system oflinks connecting said magnet with said slide, devices ior reciprocatingsaid slide to bring said magnet into the region of said ,cans and tomove said magnet into the region ofsaid trays, cam members for tiltingsaid slide to bring said magnet into engagement with said cans in oneposition of the slide and to place said cans into said trays in anotherposition of the slide, and cam elements iorshiiting said parallelogramlinks and said magnet to nest said 10 cans.

"WALTER E. RODNEY.

